For those interested, here's a wrap up of Alaskan trip with links back to our earlier Alaskan posts. As we reflect back briefly on a journey we encourage you to consider for your future travels, we include a few favorite images from a very wild place.

Our first three posts set the stage for our trip into north central Alaska. Starting in Fairbanks where we first saw the Northern Lights moving in the night sky, we headed south to Denali National Park where a 20 m.p.h. bus ride along the 50+ mile Park road took us past grizzlies, caribou, towering Mt. Denali and incredible wild scenery.

After staying at lodge in the heart of the Park managed by a First Nation corporation, we made our way back out of the Park along the same one-lane gravel road. The moose were out early in a morning made light pink by the low lying Arctic sun.

From Denali, we head south first by train and then by van. Our ultimate destination is Katmai National Park but distances are great and we make several stops along the way.

Our stops include Talkeetna, the jumping off place for hikers determined to reach the top of Mt. Denali, then Seward, and Fox Island in the middle of the Kenai National Park. Along the way, we take a class 4 bus ride to see glaciers and pull off the road along Turnagain Arm to watch beluga whales in the wild.

As we make our way out of Seward harbor toward Fox Island, a large and aging otter floats by our boat and gives us a long look.

The protected wilderness and its grizzly bears are the focus toward the end of the trip. Above, a large grizzly works at bulking up for the winter hibernation. Below, two adults tussle not 50 yards from a foot bridge we pass.

Below, we close this journey with a few last images of the Katmai region grizzlies.

And, one reminder of Alaska's bright night skies.

All the postings in one place:       

Back from the Alaskan Wild. A preview of the series.
Alaska 1: Back in a Fog. More about a trip and logistics in the wild.
Alaska 2: The Grizzly Salmon Attraction. What makes it all possible.
Alaska 3: Peril on Mt. Denali. You have to read it to find out.
Alaska 4: Before the Beginning. In Fairbanks with the Northern Lights.
Alaska 5; Kantishna to Wonder Lake. In the heart of Denali.
Alaska 6: Bull Moose and Bus Bears. The ride back in Denali.
Alaska 7: Scenic Ride and a Class 4 Bus Ride. Traveling south toward Katmai.
Alaska 8: Fox Island Jellies. Travel south to Kenai Fjords and Fox Island.
Alaska 9: Off to Katmai. Share foot paths with wild grizzlies in a National Park.
Alaska 10: Fishing the Falls. Get close to grizzly fishing on a waterfall.
Alaska 11: Below the Falls. Even more wild grizzlies up close.
Alaska 12: High Grass and Charging Grizzlies. A bit too close for comfort?
Alaska 13: A Four Grizzly Wish. Our New Year's posting.
Alaska 14: Here They Come Again. More grizzlies approach us on the beach.
Alaska 15: Water Bear Reflections. Still on the ground walking with the bears.

~ ~ ~ ~
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We are in the Katmai National Preserve, a place where Alaskan grizzlies, among the biggest in the world, roam free in a land rich with salmon and free of human hunters. It is early September and the bears are gathered, uncharacteristically close to one another, where the salmon are running.

As you can see, the bears are heavy already as they continue to fatten up for winter's hibernation. Some will begin there long sleep in just a few weeks.

But today, the weather is perfect. Slightly overcast and mild temperatures. It is a chance for us to walk among one of nature's great predators an reflect upon this extraordinary opportunity to see and be among these great creatures.

Next posting? An Alaskan wrap up.

It was three younger cubs this time and they were smaller and less aggressive than the trio who challenged us in the high grass earlier. We were now sitting and standing around a long log that had settled high on the beach, taking in all there was to see.

In our immediate vicinity and to our left were these three cubs who came to within a few feet before heading back to mom, pictured below. They were curious about the strange intruders on their beach I guess.

And, we were more relaxed as we sat and surveyed the lake and stream in front of us. Seventy grizzlies within walking distance was our best collective count. Funny how just a couple of hours of familiarity with a totally new situation can calm nerves and lower blood pressure.

But, should we be feeling so comfortable? The scene to our left is pictured above, with the foursome exiting the water about 30 yards away. To our right, another group of four had just finished digging a ditch in the sand and settled in for a mid-morning nap.

As you can see, they are not feeling threatened by our presence at all. The young ones are curious but they fall to sleep shortly after I took this picture.

meanwhile, the party to our right headed into the grass when an adult male ventured too close. As they departed, one cub took advantage of some sturdy branches to scratch an itch.

Once satisfied, he stood and took one last look at us, raising a paw as if to say goodbye.

Further up the beach are more bears. Here a family of three rests after a morning swim. The cubs' attention is fixed, you guessed it, on a male grizzly who is meandering around near the grass on the beach. If he tries to approach, mom will get up and head off with the cubs.

Before we end, here's a peek at what we will see share in our next blog. As the low lying clouds thinned out and the sun rose a bit, the conditions made the water reflective from low camera angles for the bears further out.

As you can see below, it was an opportunity to capture some great images of the bears. Look for more water-grizzly shots in our next post.

Best wishes for the coming year. Here is hoping we all have this much family and fun in the coming months.

The images are from this fall in the Alaska's Katmai Preserve. A mother grizzly and her three cubs in the shallows of a large lake. The cubs cannot help but sneak in some play even as they are being moved from their spot by a wandering male.

We will let the images speak for themselves.